Lent 2016 Update: the first 10 days

Dear Friends-
I pray that you are doing well. I hope this Lenten journey has been beautiful for you. I am learning so much and want to share a few things.

First of all being off Facebook has been lovely. It's not that I don't miss communicating with people but I'm learning who truly wants to know how I'm doing and who just wants to lurk and follow my life. Also my phone battery lasts longer and I've enjoyed that. I was talking with a friend this week about the need for genuine friendships. I feel so blessed to have genuine friends. There was a time in my life where all my relationships were shallow at best but I see how God has grown depth in my heart and soul and led me to others who feel that way.  I go on for just a moment to post things to my blog page but I'm not using Facebook messenger and I have no scrolled. I wish I could tell you I miss all that I learned from the Facebook newsfeed but all I really miss seeing is the notifications from some of the couponing things I follow about the deals going on.

I am learning more about rest and it's importance. I'm learning to enjoy being in my home and I've been spending a lot of time in my kitchen. When we bought the house it was one of the things I loved about the house. It's beautiful and spacious and I love that there is a ton of counter space. As I mentioned I am following the Autoimmune Protocol in an attempt to heal my body. If you haven't heard of it this might help explain http://www.thepaleomom.com/autoimmunity/the-autoimmune-protocol . It's not something for everyone but I notice some benefits so far.

1. Some of the symptoms I was having are gone! I notice more energy and physically feeling better.
2. I've learned I love oranges. LOVE. I could eat 4-5 a day. You can't do that and be healthy and it's not part of the protocol but it's something to note.
3. I learned that I have unfortunately thought my whole life that I did not like coconut. Growing up we didn't eat anything with it except Mounds candy which I thought was disgusting. Now I know that wasn't coconut and I've learned to love it in all forms: butter, flour, milk, shredded, chips, ect. It's nice and refreshing. It adds something different in the mix between all the meat and veggies.
4. I have found some wonderful recipes that I would not have tried without this experience. I wanna link some of my favorites that I've tested and loved below. You can also follow my on pinterest for more ideas if you are AIP or thinking about it.https://www.pinterest.com/anitahelton/

http://thecuriouscoconut.com/blog/smoky-maple-sage-breakfast-sausage
These sausage patties are how I made it through the week for breakfast. Everyday but Friday (because as a Catholic I don't eat meat on Friday). So tasty. I highly recommend them. I made them with pork.

http://www.forestandfauna.com/chocolate-chip-cookie-aip/

- I make these with freeze dried blueberries, some with raisins and some rolled in cinnamon and coconut sugar. WOAH so good

http://autoimmune-paleo.com/nutrisclerosis-meatloaf/
This meatloaf was possibly the best I've ever had. It cooked beautiful, tasted wonderful and was healthy. I used ground turkey and ground grassfed beef but you can use any combination of meat you like. The bacon on top is delightful. The next time I am going to add in some ground liver to really improve the nutritional value.

I've also learned to love some spices that I have never used like Marjoram. So tasty and delicious on some over roasted carrots. I even made homemade bone broth. It was good but I found it a little bland. I did meet a wonderful women this week who gave me some tips. Any tips you have would be great. It's such a healthy gift for our family I want to learn to make it a part of our lives.

Do you have any favorite recipes that are AIP friendly?

Spiritually I've seen God leading me and giving me quite a bit of grace. I call and He answers. He is teaching me to lean on Him more and more. Mass this past Sunday was especially beautiful. As I was in my head knowing that the Eucharist is the body and blood, the priest spoke during the consecration on how it is Jesus without a doubt. All this following readings that reminded me that man doesn't live on bread alone.  As I'm bread free right now, among many other things God was reminding me that He is the most fulfilling food for me. His body. His blood. It fills my heart and soul. It's such an amazing experience to physically encounter our Lord and it was such a gift for God to especially speak to my heart the first Sunday of Lent.

I have fallen off the wagon with the Rosary. I was doing well and faithfully saying it but make it a goal for Lent and suddenly it doesn't even cross my mind or if it does I'm in a place where I can't at that moment. I know how amazing and powerful the rosary is so this week I hope to be more diligent with it. I know there is great grace from it. Pray for me friends that I will be faithful in this.

How is your Lent? Are you learning? What is God teaching you. Remember each day is a new chance. If you haven't been so good at keeping this Lent Christ centered maybe start today. It's never to late to turn to Him.
God bless you friends.

Anita

Lent 2016 Begins

Hello friends
Today we begin a Lenten journey. I am starting in my pajamas on a day off.  My husband is off to work and i have had the morning to relax. For me this is a treat. I have spent time reading and listening to podcasts. It really has been nice. Rest is something I hope to have in this journey. It is something that does not come easy to me but something I need.  I have my sweet dog curled up at my feet. She enjoys a nice day off as well.

So how am I going to grow closer to God this season ?

First I will not be scrolling facebook. Facebook is not evil or sinful I just want to free my mind and my hand. I want to not fill every moment with some thought but let my mind rest. I hope when I want to share or type I will blog. I will be posting Lenten thoughts on facebook but thats it. So notifications you will have to wait. Facebook app on my phone: goodbye.  I think it will be good for me.

I am going on a journey to help some of my health issues. As you all may have read I did Paleo over advent and saw a great improvement in how I felt. However when that was over I jumped back in to food, and while I choose much better choices than I did and have really limited myself in so many ways, I have also cheated. When I do it makes me feel physically horrible. Muscle ache, joint pain, fatigue, irritability, rash...something is bothering me and I do not know what. Then at work one day I was being compliant and having a salad when my mouth started to swell and I had to take Benadryl to stop it. Cue extreme drowsiness. It might have been a contamination on the gloves of the preparer of the salad because I have ordered this salad many times at work since it is the only Paleo compliant meal I can get on a busy day if I forget my lunch. Needless to say I was afraid to eat many things for a few days and it put on my heart the need to figure out what is truly irritating me.  I know what your thinking: go get an allergy test. I would but statistically they can miss sensitivies and allergies. I do not want to miss things. I want to be sure. When I am finished I will go through a specific reintroduction phase. I am ready to give up whatever it is.  This will not be easy but I know it can work. I know I can deny myself and fast from all these things that may hurt me to move toward heatlh.  Coupling fasting with prayer is powerful and so my hope is to spend my time off facebook growing in prayer. Learning about it and comitting to it. My husband  is in on this as well.

It begins today: Ash Wednesday.

What are you committing to for Lent? How are you letting God work His story in your life. I keep reflecting on my Savior: The Mighty One who has done great things for me. His journey to the cross set me free. I hope as I pick up my cross each day of Lent that I will continue to grow in freedom. Fasting has always yeilded growth in my life and taught me so much. I am excited to see what God accomplishes in this season.

Friends what are your plans for Lent? How can I be praying for you this season? I encourage you to embrace this season. Deny yourself to grow in virtue. Ask for strength if it seems hard.

God bless you friends
Anita